Hits keep coming: 49ers’ Brooks fined

NEW YORK (AP) — San Francisco 49ers linebacker Ahmad Brooks has been fined $15,570 by the NFL for his hit on Saints quarterback Drew Brees last Sunday.

That is the standard amount for such hits to the head and neck area.

Brooks leveled Drew Brees, forcing a lost fumble. But the penalty kept the ball in the Saints’ possession, and they soon kicked two field goals to win 23-20. The tackle left Brees with blood on his chin.

Brooks vehemently argued against the penalty, saying he didn’t use his hands or helmet and called it a “bear hug.” Brees labeled the hit a clothesline tackle.

The linebacker was fined $12,750 for a roughing-the-passer call against Aaron Rodgers during the season opener against Green Bay.

Long-shot story for long snapper

Kevin McDermott became a long snapper almost by default. As one of 15 players on his middle school team in Nashville, Tenn., the coach asked everybody to line up and give long snapping a try.

McDermott enjoyed it, and showed some natural talent, too. A high school coach told McDermott’s father he might have a college career ahead of him if he stuck with snapping. Sure enough, the 6-foot-4, 234-pound McDermott earned a scholarship to UCLA and quickly emerged as an NFL prospect.

While he went undrafted back in April, the rookie free agent got his shot when he signed with San Francisco in May — then, in a few short months became the starter by beating out 13-year veteran Brian Jennings, the longest-tenured member of the 49ers.

Dierdorf retires

If Dan Dierdorf could beam himself into the press boxes of NFL stadiums around the country, he might keep calling games a few more decades.

But with two artificial knees, two artificial hips and a bad back, the travel required by his analyst job for CBS just became too much. The 64-year-old Hall of Famer announced Wednesday he would retire after this season — his 43rd straight involved with the NFL. Dierdorf played offensive line for the St. Louis Cardinals from 1971-83, earning All-Pro honors six times. He then headed straight for the broadcast booth. His three decades as an analyst marked the longest current tenure on TV.